Parts cleaning apparatus



Sept. 26,1967 K. M. KASNER 3,343,555

PARTS CLEAN ING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 23, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 KERMIT M. KASNER INVENTOR.

Filed 001;. 23, 1965 Sept. 26, 1967 K. M. KASNER 3,343,555

PARTS CLEANING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A KERMIT M. KASNER ID V INVENTOR.

United States Patent ice 3,343,555 PARTS CLEANING APPARATUS Kermit M. Kasner, 16916 12th Place NE., Seattle, Wash. 98155 Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,510 4 Claims. (Cl. 134-111) The present invention relates to a parts cleaning apparatus, and pertains more particularly to a device for cleaning machine and automobile parts and assemblies such as are found in machine and automotive repair and servicing shops.

One of the perennial problems associated with filling stations and machine and automobile repair shops is the cleaning of dirt, grease and other foreign matter from motor parts, bearing and other items. It is common practice particularly in filling stations to pour solvent in a bucket or pan and to use such pail or pan to soak the parts and to then brush adhering dirt and grease therefrom. After several parts have been cleaned, the solvent becomes heavily contaminated with chunks of dirt and grease and also carries finer particles and foreign material in suspension. In such a situation, the solvent is so heavily contaminated that it cannot be usedfor a final rinse on such parts as bearings. In order to maintain the solvent in a reasonably usable condition, it is necessary to pour out the solvent, clean the bucket, and then replace with fresh solvent. It is under this inefiicient system of cleaning parts that so much solvent is used and wasted.

The present invention contemplates an improved apparatus for the cleaning of machine and engine parts and for conserving cleaning fluid or solvent. In brief, the invention embraces a rectangular tank having a center partition with ports above the bottom so that the solvent or cleaning fluid may freely pass from one chamber into another through the partition. At the upper edge of the partition above the solvent is a detachable settling pan or basin. Two removable and inclined working surfaces are supported in the main tank in such a manner that one working surface covers the chamber on either side of the center partition. The working surfaces terminate over the settling basin in spaced apart relationship so that cleaning fluid or solvent as it runs ofl each of the respective work surfaces runs first into the settling basin and then into one of the lower settling chambers. The solvent then passes through the center partition ports and into the other chamber. The other chamber is provided with a barrier filter behind which is located a motor driven pumping device for recirculating the solvent. Attached to the pump are two hoses, one of which leads to a flowthrough brush to aid in hand cleaning and the other which hoses leads to a rinsing nozzle. A foot switch is provided which is attached to the pump motor so that the pump can be selectively operated to provide solvent only when the operator requires it. In this way a live electrical connection to the motor exists only when the operator presses the foot switch. At all other times the electrical connection or circuit to the pump motor is interrupted so that live electrical connections are eliminated except when the parts Washer is in use.

Accordingly, it is a prime feature of this invention to provide a parts washing apparatus which is simple in design, durable in construction, and economical to produce.

It is another feature of this invention to supply a parts washing apparatus which has a large working area above the solvent storage location and in which the solvent in any amount desired may be brought directly to the working surface area.

Yet another feature of this invention is to furnish a parts washing apparatus which may be used for long periods of time before cleaning thereof is necessary.

3,343,555 Patented Sept. 26, 1967 A still further feature of this invention is to provide a parts washing apparatus which eliminates wasteful usage of cleaning fluid by conserving the same through sedimentation and filter purification.

A further feature of this invention is to furnish a parts washing apparatus which has both a flow-through type cleaning brush and a soaking, flushing or rinsing nozzle.

An even further feature of this invention is to supply a parts washing apparatus which has three distinct settling or sedimentation compartments in addition to a filtering means.

A still further feature of this invention is to provide a parts washing apparatus which eliminates buckets and pans and which helps to give a clean work area.

A still further feature of this invention is to supply a parts washing apparatus which is easy to keep clean which has no live electrical circuits connected therewith except when in actual use.

Another feature of this invention is to provide a parts washing apparatus which is adaptable to any shop since it is both small and compact.

Still another feature of this invention is to provide a parts washing apparatus which because it recirculates clean solvent minimizes the danger of leaving foreign matter on cleaned parts.

These, and other features, objects and advantages, which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed. Reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, and wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus with portions thereof broken away in order to clearly show the details thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a partial cross section view in elevation taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 showing further details of the construction of this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section view in elevation taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1 and further illustrating the details of this invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing generally the external appearance of the parts washer.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the parts washing apparatus or tank, generally designed by the number 10, has end walls 12 and 14, rear wall 16, front wall 18, and bottom wall 20. End walls 12 and 14 extend downwardly to form supporting frame structure for the tank. The legs are interconnected by a stringer or shelf 22 generally above fioor level and below the bottom wall 20 of the tank. As can be seen the basic configuration is one of a raised rectangular tank of considerable depth. Substantially midway between the end walls 12 and 14 and running transversely from the front wall 18 to the rear wall 16 is a center partition or wall 24. It will be noted that the upper edge of center partition 24 terminates below the upper edges of the main tank walls. Center partition 24 near the lower end thereof but above bottom wall 20 has a series of substantially horizontally aligned orifices 26 extending from one end of center partition 24 to the other. Thus center partition 24 defines a first compartment or chamber 28 and a second compartment or chamber 30. Detachably mounted and received along the upper edge of center partition 24 is an elongated sedimentation or settling basin designated by the number 32. Sedimentation basin 32 is a rectangular trough-like and open container having a front Wall 34, a real wall 36, a bottom wall 38, and end walls 40. Basin 32 may be detachably secured on the upper edge of center partition 24 by virtue of a double backed hanger wall 42. Basin 32 extends over the entire width of the washer and is approximately three or four inches deep by three or four inches wide so that, it is supported entirely along and at the upper edge of center partition 24.

Each of the compartments 28 and 30 is generally covered by a detachable or removable work surface slightly inclined to aid solvent flow to the center. Compartment 28 is covered by work surface 44 and compartment 30 by work surface 46. Work surface 44 terminates over basin 32 with a downwardly sloping lip means 48. Working surface 46 also terminates at its inner end above basin 32 in spaced relation to lip 48 of work surface 44 to define an elongated opening 50 through which cleaning fluid may pass and run into basin 32. Working surfaces 44 and 46 are supported on shelves 52 and 54, respectively. Work surface 44 has a downwardly projecting retaining tab 56 which bears against forward wall 34 of basin 32 in order to retain said working surface in position. In like manner working surface 46 has downwardly extending tab 58 hearing against the hanger wall 42 of basin 32.

Compartment 30, as can be seen best by reference to FIGURES 1 and 3 has inits rear outside corner a triangular pump area 60. Pump area 60 is defined by a barrier type screen or filter 62 which is held diagonally in place by pairs of spaced apart and vertically disposed filter support members 64 and 66. The filter supports 64 and 66 allow filter 62 to be slipped out vertically by pulling same upwardly from its operative position. Behind barrier filter 62 in pump area 60 is pump 68 driven by motor 70 through shaft 72. The motor of course is located high enough in chamber 30 so that it is never immersed or submerged in the solvent. The pump is spaced slightly above bottom wall 20 and below surface level 110 of the solvent. Another important feature of this invention is the provision of a pair of hoses 74 and 76 leading from pump 68. A main pump outlet connection 78 couples to a hose 74 while a branch connection 80 on connector 78 couples to a hose 76. Obviously those skilled in the art will devise many ways in which the hoses are connected to the pump. The provision of two hoses is necessary so that a rinsing nozzle means 82 can be connected to hose 74 and a flow-through type brush means 84 can be connected to hose 76. By providing a flow of solvent through the brush, which incidentally may have means connected thereto for opening and closing ofi the flow, the operator is able to maintain an adequate quantity of clean solvent on the parts being cleaned without having either to dip the brush or the part in dirty solvent. The nozzle 82 allows the operator to rinse the part with clean solvent periodically and when the cleaning is finished to wash away all residual bits of foreign material.

Parts washer is provided with a swinging cover or lid 86 hinged on the back wall 16 as at 88 and 90. Lid or cover 86 is provided along the hinged edge thereof with a flow deflector means 92. If solvent is splashed against the inside surface of the open lid, it runs down and will be deflected by means 92 into the tank rather than stream donwwardly on the outside of the tank and form a pool on the floor. A lid rest 94 allows the lid 86 to be retained in a generally vertical position when the parts washer is being used. A chain 96 attached to the upper end of the cover retainer 94 hangs over the upper or free edge of lid or cover 86 to assist in holding the lid in an upright position. The retaining bar 94 is detachably supported in a holder 98. -Motor 70 is actuated by foot switch 100 through wires 102 and 104 connected to an appropriate electrical supply outlet such as a wall plug. The electrical connections of course will provide for complete grounding of the washer. The foot switch is a safety feature that allows the motor to be actuated by a completed electrical circuit only when the button on the foot switch is depressed by the operator. At all other times when the washer is not in use the electrical connections to motor 70 are interrupted so that there are no live electrical wires within the confines of the washer tank. Drain plugs as at 4 106 and 108 in compartments 28 and 30 allow the parts washer to be periodically drained and cleaned.

In operation, it will be understood that the cover may be swung open, parts deposited on the Working surfaces 44 and/ or 46, the motor and pump actuated by foot switch 100, and the part treated with brush 84 and nozzle 82 as many times as needed in order to complete the cleaning operation. Large particles and accumulations of grease and dirt will be caught in the first sedimentation chamber or basin 32. For this reason basin 32 is readily slipped off center partition wall 24 and emptied of accumulated sludge. While basin 32 is in position, solvent will overflow front wall 34 thereof and drop into the second sedimentation chamber or compartment 28. There, more sediment, sludge and waste material will settle to the bottom of the tank. Solvent will flow through ports or orifices 26, which are above the primary sedimentation range, into a third sedimentation chamber or compartment 30. The solvent is maintained at a level below the top of filter 62 as shown in FIGURE 3 by dash-dot line 110. As the solvent flows through orifice 26 from chamber 28 it will carry only fine particles of waste into compartment 30. There the finer waste particles will settle to form a sludge on the bottom of said chamber 30. The solvent then flows through filter 62 into pump chamber 60 where it can be circulated for reuse through nozzle 82 and flow-through brush 84. Thus, there is provided a three stage sedimentation structure together with an easily removable filter for keeping the solvent clean and for eliminating waste material.

It will be appreciated that numerous modifications and changes will occur to those skilled in the art, and that the embodiments shown herein are merely illustrative of the principles of this invention. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact construction and operation as shown and described. Hence, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A parts washing apparatus, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular tank means having bottom, end, front and rear walls, said tank also including a general vertically disposed partition means extending between the front and rear tank walls to define first and second sedimentation compartments in said tank and having ports therein above the bottom tank wall to allow cleaning fluid to flow from one compartment to the other, (b) a catch basin detachably secured on and extending over substantially the entire upper portion of said partition on the first compartment side thereof, (c) filter means within said second compartment defining a pump area, said pump area having power driven pump means therein and hose means attached to said pump means, and (d) work surface means disposed over each of said compartments, said work surface means being formed to define an opening over said catch basin, whereby cleaning fluid directed to said work surface means by said hose means flows into said catch basin, thence overflowing into said first compartment, thence passing into said second compartment through said partition means ports and finally through said filter means into said pump area for recirculation through said hose.

2. A parts washing apparatus, comprising: (a) a generally'rectangular tank means having bottom, end, front and rear walls, said tank also including a generally vertically disposed partition means extending between the front and rear tank walls to define first and second sedimentation compartments in said tank and having ports therein at a predetermined distance above the bottom tank wall to allow cleaning fluid to flow from one compartment to the other, (b) a catch basin detachably secured on and extending over substantially the entire upper portion of said partition and within said first compartment, (c) a pump area within said second compartment having filter means through which said pump area communicates with said second compartment, said pump area having a motor driven pump means therein and hose means attached to said pump means, and ((1) work surface means removably positioned over each of said compartments, said work surface means being formed to define an opening over said catch basin, whereby cleaning fluid directed to said work surface means by said hose means flows into said catch basin, thence overflowing to said first compartment, thence passing into said second compartment through said partition means ports and finally through said filter means into said pump area for recirculation through said hose.

3. A parts Washing apparatus, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular tank means having bottom, end, front and rear walls, said tank also including a generally vertically disposed partition means extending between the front and rear tank walls to define first and second sedimentation compartments in said tank and having ports therein above the bottom tank wall to allow cleaning fluid to flow from one compartment to the other, (b) a sedimentation catch basin detachably secured on and extending over substantially the entire upper portion of said partition and Within said first compartment, (c) filter means within said second compartment together with said tank walls defining a pump area, said pump area having a motor driven pump means therein and conduit means attached to said pump means, and (d) work surface means disposed over each of said compartments, said work surface means being formed to define an opening over said catch basin, whereby cleaning fluid directed to said Work surface means by said conduit means flows into said catch basin, thence overflowing to said first compartment, thence passing into said second compartment through said partition means ports and finally through said filter means into said pump area for recirculation through said conduit.

4. A parts washing apparatus, comprising: (a) a generally rectangular tank means having bottom, end, front and rear walls, said tank also including a generally vertically disposed partition means extending between the front and rear tank Walls to define first and second sedimentation compartments in said tank and having ports therein above the bottom tank Wall to allow cleaning fluid to flow from one compartment to the other, (b) a catch basin detachably secured on and extending over substantially the entire upper portion of said partition and within said first compartment, (0) filter means within said second compartment defining a pump area, said pump area having a motor driven pump means therein and conduit means attached to said pump means, and (d) an inclined, removable work surface means disposed over each of said compartments, each of said work surface means terminating generally over said catch basin and in spaced apart relation to each other to define an opening over said catch basin, whereby cleaning fluid directed to said work surface means by said conduit means flows into said catch basin, thence overflowing to said first compartment, thence passing into said second compartment through said partition means ports and finally through said filter means into said pump area for recirculation through said conduit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 158,684 1/1875 Cosgrove 134111 2,385,150 9/1945 Miller 134-111 X 2,573,008 10/1951 Gorden 134191 X 2,677,381 5/1954 Fisher 134-111 X 2,678,656 5/1954 Palmer 134-111 X 2,825,349 3/1958 Keliher et al 134186 X CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

R. L. BLEUTGE, Examiner. 

1. A PARTS WASHING APPARATUS, COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR TANK MEANS HAVING BOTTOM, END, FRONT AND REAR WALLS, SAID TANK ALSO INCLUDING A GENERAL VERTICALLY DISPOSED PARTITION MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR TANK WALLS TO DEFINE FIRST ANS SECOND SEDIMENTATION COMPARTMENTS IN SAID TANK AND HAVING PORTS THEREIN ABOVE THE BOTTOM TANK WALL TO ALLOW CLEANING FLUID TO FLOW FROM ONE COMPARTMENT TO THE OTHER, (B) A CATACH BASIN DETACHABLY SECURED ON AND EXTENDING OVER SUBSTANTIALLY THE ENTIRE UPPER PORTIOIN OF SAID PARTITION ON THE FIRST COMPARTMENT SIDE THEREOF, (C) FILTER MEANS WITHIN SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT DEFINING A PUMP AREA, SAID PUMP AREA HAVING POWER DRIVEN PUMP MEANS THEREIN THE HOSE MEANS ATTACHED TO SAID PUMP MEANS, AND (D) WORK SURFACE MEANS DISPOSED OVER EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS, SAID WORK SURFACE MEANS BEING FORMED TO DEFINE AN OPENING OVER SAID CATCH BASIN, WHEREBY CLEANING FLUID DIRECTED TO SAID WORK SURFACE MEANS BY SAID HOSE MEANS FLOWS INTO SAID CATCH BASIN, THENCE OVERFLOWING INTO SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT, THENCE PASSING INTO SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT THROUGH SAID PARTITION MEANS PORTS AND FINALLY THROUGH SAID FILTER MEANS INTO SAID PUMP AREA FOR RECIRCULATION THROUGH SAID HOSE. 